[2017-06-27]









The April 15 Literary Production Company which is widely known to the Koreans and foreign readers has celebrated its 50th anniversary.
The company was established on June 20 1967 in reflection of the unanimous desire of men of literature and people who were eager to praise President Kim Il Sung for the distinguished exploits he had performed in decades-to long war to win back the country’s sovereiguly from Japan and in building a prosperous people’s country.
Deeply moved by stories about the President’s revolutionary family, chequered life, arduous struggle, unforgettable comrades and helpers, warm love of people and all kinds of hardships, Chon Se Bong, a writer of the company who also chaired the Writers Union of Korea at the time, was burst out tears and asked the President to pull off his socks and show his feet that traversed the long road.
Chon wrote “The Year 1932” as the first sequel of the noble series dedicated to the great history of President Kim Il Sung. “The Dawn of the Revolution”, “The Arduous March”, “The 250-mile Journey for Learning” and “Mangyongdae” in succession.
The novels were all instant success as they play out the extraordinary life of the great man who achieved the great cause of national liberation while undergoing all sorts of hardships and the history of the rigorous Korean revolution in an epic style.
After reading the novels, the President described them as incomparably superior to royal chronicles and the excellent revolutionary books.
The cycle of novels “Immortal History” that started with the “The Year 1932” reached the acme with “Eternal Life”.
The novel portraying the last period of the President’s great life was reprinted three times in a year and a half.
Another epic series “Immortal Guidance” is also a masterpiece of the company as well as “Immortal History”. The sequels of the series have captured the imagination of the reader as they do justice to the revolutionary career of Chairman Kim Jong Il, who believed in the people as in heaven and devoted his all to the country and people.
The first serial is “Wisdom”.
“Pyongyang Declares”, “Holding Rifles and Swords” and novels show in a pathetic and impressive way the immortal leadership of the Chairman who surmounted all difficulties by dint of Songun politics in the hard times of the Arduous March and forced march. They touch readers’ heartstrings as they are associated with the yearning for the great leader who shouldered the full responsibility for safeguarding socialism, continued his field guidance while having naps and rice-balls in his field car, and defended the dignity, safety and destiny of the country and people.
The translated version of “Field Train” that tells about the last period of his great life was published in Japan and other countries to create a sensation.
Over the past decades the company has produced over a hundred books of the two series, well over a hundred translated books and dozens of long and short novels.
The Korean people still remember such stellar novelists Ri Ki Yong, Chon Se Bong, Sok Yun Gi, Jong Ki Jong, Kwon Jong Ung, Ri Jong Ryol, Paek Po Hum and Song Sang Won. Now new generations of writers have stepped into their shoes
Among them are Kim Jong, Kim Yong Hui, Paek Nam Ryong, Pak Thae Su and Nam Tae Won.
 
By Ri Sung Ik PT